Lighter construction



Dec. 13, 1932. R, B 1,891,020

LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 13, 1928 35 line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Patented D... 13, 1932 Q 1,891,020

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF STAMFORD, CONNEOTIGUT, ASSIGNOR TO EVANS CASE COMPANY,

OF NORTH. ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTSfA CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Application filed December 13, 1928. Serial No. 325,746.

This invention relates to lighting devices loosely mounted a suitable abrasive wheel and more particularly to those in which a 12 and a pressed metal actuating member 13. wick is ignited by sparks from pyrophoric Pressing against the lower surface of the metal or other suitable sparking material. wheel 12 is a short cylindrical piece of pyro- One of the objects thereof is to provide a phoric metal 14 resting within a tube 15'expractical device of the above type of simple tending downwardly into the fuel tank and and durable construction and which is eflithis pyrophoric metal is urged toward the cient and dependable in action. Further wheel by means of a long spiral spring (not objects are to facilitate the actuation of the shown) within the tube 15 as is customary in 10 spark producing mechanism, to eliminate such devices. A ratchet 16 is likewise loosegearing, to prevent dis lor tion f th 1y mounted upon the shaft 11 and fixed to snufi'er, to provide convenient access to the the W e 2- burner when the snufi'er is raised, to reduce A Se ond Shaft 17 is journaled in the webs the number of parts, and in gen ral t ro 9 and 10 in the same manner as the shaft 11 15 videan improved lighter of this type. Other and 011 this Shaft is 6 O ted a objects will be in part obvious and in part pr ssed metal arm 18 carrying 011 i s r e pointed out hereinafter. outer end a snufier 19. This snufi'er is in The invention accordingly consists in the the form of a cap which in closed position features of construction,combinations of elefi l sely e e re d upp r end 20 ments, and arrangements of parts which will of the burner and its edge presses tightly be exemplified in the apparatus hereinafter against the beveled shoulder 21 thereon .to described and the scope of application of seal in the exposed wick end and prevent which will be indicated in the following evaporation or waste of fuel therefrom. claims. ratchet arm 22 is pivotally mounted on a 25 I11 the accompanying drawing, in which Cross pin 23 set in the snufi'er arm 18 and is shown one of the various possible-embodithis ratchet arm is yieldingly held in contact ments of this invention v with the ratchet 16 by means of a suitable Fig. 1 is a side elevation with portions spring as 24. r broken away to expose the parts concealed The actuating member 13 consists of a 30 thereby; broad finger piece-25 from the opposite side Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of por- Walls of which extend a pair of arms 26, one tions of the device; being disposed on each side of the snuifer Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view and arm 18. The forward extremity of each of Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the' these arms 26 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 11. Each of these arms 26 is preferably Similar reference characters refer to simicut away as at 27 to admit the shaft 17 when lar views throughout the several figures of the actuating member is in its depressed pothe drawing. sition, as indicated in Fig. 2. A tubular Referring now to the drawing in detail, shaft or sleeve 28 extends between the arms 49 there is shown a fuel tank 5 provided with :26 of the actuating member and this shaft is the customary filling of absorbent material supported by'a pin 29 which extends through and openings through which liquid fuel may the arms and fits within the hereof the shaft be poured when the tank is inverted. A so that the shaft is revoluble thereon. burner 6 is provided on the elongated top The snuff'er arm 18 is channel shaped and wall 7 of the tank and this contains an abforms a housing for the friction wheel and sorbent wick 8 which eittends into the tank other parts in the vicinity thereof when this in the usual manner. arm is in closed position. Depending cars 30 Formed upon the upper surface of the top are provided on the side walls 31 of this arm wall 7 are 'a pairof webs 9 and 10. Jourand these are journaled on the shaft 17.

\\ naled in these webs is a shaft 11 on which is Each of the side walls 31 of this arm is provided with an elongated slot as at 32 and the shaft 28 extends through these slots. Flanges as 33 may be provided along the longitudinal edges of the slots 32 to reinforce such edges and provide wider faces in contact with the shaft 28. Such flanges may be formed by striking up the metal of the side walls in the formation of the slots 32. The shaft 28 and the slots 32 form a pin and slot connection by means of which the snulfer arm is actuated by the member 13. The ability of the shaft 28 to revolve provides a roller action within the slots 32 which insures smooth and easy operation of the parts. A spring 34 acting against the snuffer arm normally retains the actuating member in raised position and causes the snuifer to press firmly on burner 6 in the manner-described. An end web as 35 between the webs 9 and 10 may be provided and this will act as a shield for the burner.

The eccentric action produced by the spac ing of the axes 11 and 17 provides a variable speed of rotation of the wheel 12, orin other words a snap action. The wheel rotates slowly as the cap is being raised clear of the wick, then rapidly to provide the shower of spark, and then more slowly as the finger piece approaches its lowest position. As no stop is present to limit the upward movement of the member 13, pressing contact of the snuff er and the burner is insured when the actuating member is released.

In the operation of the device the finger piece 25 is depressed from the normal position indicated in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. The downward movement of the shaft 28 in this finger piece acting in the slots 32 causes the snufler arm 18 to swing about the axis of the shaft 17 into its raised position or substantially that shown in Fig.2. At the same time the ratchet arm 22 rotates the ratchet 16 one tooth distance or approximate- 1y 90 and carries with it the friction wheel 12, causing the teeth on the periphery of this wheel to act against the upper extremity of the pyrophoric metal 14. This projects a shower of-sparks upon the wick 8 of the burn- I er and lights the same. The parts will remain in this position and the lighter will continue to burn as long as the finger piece is held in its depressed position. -As soon as the finger piece is released the spring 34 causes the snuffer arm to return to its normal or lowered position over the burner, extinguishing the flame thereon. This movement of the snufier arm acts through the pin and slot connection to cause the actuating member'to swing upwar'dly to its raised position. At the same time the ratchet arm 22 is advanced on the ratchet 16 to engagement with the next tooth. The friction wheel 12 remains stationary during this return movement of the parts. This completes the cycle of operations and the parts are now in when desired.

position to repeat the samev It is obvious from the foregoing description that the lighter is simple and durable in construction and eflicient and dependable in action. The long leverage .provided by the member 13 greatly facilitates the operation of the device. The mounting of the snuffer arm on an axis further removed from, the burner than the axis of the frictionfwheel makes it possible to swing the snuffer a; considerable dfstance from the burner and thus not only prevents the snuifer from becoming tarnished by the flame but provides more available space about the burner which is advantageous particularly when a pipe is to be lighted. The pin and slot'connection enables the snufi'er to be readily lifted by the actuating member without the use of racks and piniofis or other gearing which in such a relation are liable to cause trouble and are generally the first parts of. the lighter to wear out. Furthermore this connection permits the replacement of the snufi'er on the burner as soon as the finger piece is released. Firm pressure of the snufler on the burner is always insured when the finger piece is not depressed.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the various objects of this invention are achieved and-that the same is well adapted to meet the hardest conditions of practical use.-

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fueltank having an elongated top wall, a wick projecting from said wall adjacentone, end thereof, a snu'fier for said wick journaled on said top wall substantially mid-way'between the ends thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled on said wall adjacent said wick, and a manually operable lever for actuating said wheel and said snuffer, said lever being fulcrumed at the axis of said wheel and extending over said tank substantially to the opposite end of said top wall from said wick.

2. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wall, a burner adjacent one end of said wall, a snuifer for said burner journaled on said wall substantially midway between the ends thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled on said wall intermediate said burner and the axis of said snufl'er, a. pyrophoric member co-operating with said wheel, and means for actuating said snu'ffer and said wheel including a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the axis of said wheel and extending therefrom substantially longitudinally of ice having the burner thereon, one of said arms being disposed on each'side of said snuffer,

and a finger (piece on the free outer end portions of sai arms for manually actuating said arms.

3. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wall, a burner adjacent one end of said wall, a snufi'er for said burner journaled on said wall substantially midway between the ends thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled on said wall intermediate said burner and the axis of said snuffer, a pyrophoric member co-operating with said wheel, and means for manually actuating said snuffer and said wheel including a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the axis ofsaid wheel and, extending therefrom substantially longitudinally of said top wall toward the end opposite that having the burner thereon, one

of said arms being disposed on each side of said snufi'er, a finger piece on the free outer ends of said arms, and a pin and slot connection between said arms and said snulfer whereby said snuffer is lifted when said finger piece is depressed.

4. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wall, a burner adjacent one end of said wall, a snuffer for said burner journaled on said wall substantially midway between the ends thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled on said wall intermediate said burner and the axis of said snulfer, a pyro-r phoric member cooperating with said wheel, and means for manua ly actuating said snulfer and said wheel including a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the axis of said wheel and extending therefrom longitudinally of said top wall toward the end opposite that having the burner thereon, one of said arms being disposed on each side of said snufier, a finger piece "on the free outer ends of the said arms, a pin and slot connection between said arms and said snufl'er and a ratchet arm and ratchet connection between said snuffer and said wheel whereby said snuifer is lifted from said burner and said wheel rotated when said finger piece is depressed.

5. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an e ongated'top wall, a wick projecting from said wall adjacent one end thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled above said wall, a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel, a snuffer for sa d wick j ournaled on said tank over said wall, an actuating lever for-said wheel fulcrumed on the axis of the wheel, and means acting to mu'tiply the movement of the wheel relative to the movement of the lever.

wall adjacent one end thereof, an abrasive wheel journaled above said wall near said wick, a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel, a snufler journaled on said tank on the opposite side of said wheel from said wick and connected to said wheel. an actuating lever for said wheel fulcrumed on the axis of the wheel, and means connecting said lever with sa d snufi'er and acting to effect movement thereof in response to an actuation of said lever, said parts acting to give a greater angular movement to the wheel than is the angular movement of the lever.

7. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wa l, a wick projecting from said wall adjacent one end thereof. an abrasive wheel journaled above said wall, a pvrophoric element cooperating with said wheel, a snuffer arm j ournaled on said tank on the opposite I side of said wheel from said wick and extending over said wick, a snulfer on said arm,

from said tank, an abrasive wheel mounted on said tank. a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel, a pair of crossed levers the fulcrum point of each located nearer the free end of the other than is the fulcrum point of the other mounted for movement on said tank, one of said levers forming a finger piece and the other a snufier arm, a 'snufi'er for said wick on said arm, and means responsive to actuation of said finger piece whereby said snufier is raised and said wheel is turned.

9. In construction for lighters and the like. in combination, a receptacle having an elongated upper wall for the mechanism. a wick projecting through said wall, a sparking wheel adjacent said w ck, a snufl'er mounted on a horizontal axis the other side of said wheel from said wick and adapted when de pressed to cover said wick. a depressible finger piece adapted to be moved downward to actuate the lighter, a connection between said finger piece and said snufl'er to raise said snuffer a substant al distance in response to depression of said finger piece, a ratchet wheel adapted when rotated to rotate said sparking wheel, pawl means pivoted to said snufl'erat a point in the latter to partake of a proportionate amount of the said substantial movement given said snufi'er in response to the said depression of said finger p ece and thereby to give said pawl means a path of movement so close to said ratchet wheel as will maintain said pawl means in engagement with said ratchet wheel throughout the said proportionate movement of said pawl means by said snutfer, and spring means yieldingly urging said pawl means against said ratchet wheel thereby to cause said pawl means, throughout its entire retrograde movement as said snuifer is returned to snuifing position, to ride over said ratchet wheel without rotating said ratchet wheel and sparking wheel.

10. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a receptacle for liquid fuel having an elongated top portion, a pyrophoric tube in said receptacle having therein a spring and a piece of pyrophoric mate rial, a sparking wheel above said pyrophoric material mounted on a horizontal axis, a wick projecting above the top portion, a snuifer member pivoted on a horizontal axis on the other side of said wheel from said wick and having a snuffer cap. a ratchet wheel directly connected to said sparking wheel, a pawl member pivoted to said snuifer member and engaging said ratchet wheel, a push finger piece having a broad operating portion entirely located above said top portion and behind the rear end of the snuffer member in all positions of the snnfi'er member, and a pin and sliding bearing connecting the snufier member and the finger piece adapted to move the snuffer cap a greater distance than the operating portion of the finger piece is moved, said pin being carried by said finger piece and having a path of movement. in response to operating movement of said finger piece, that approaches the axis about which said snutfer member is pivoted.

11. In a construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank, an abrasive wheel mounted on said tank, a pyrophoric member cooperating with said wheel, a wick projecting from the top of said tank on one side of said wheel and extending into said tank, a snufi'er mounted on said tank on the opposite side of said wheel from said wick, a depressible finger piece pivoted on an axis intermediate saidwick and the axis of said snuifer, means actuated by said finger piece and engaging said snnfi'er to cause said snuffer to be lifted from said wick when one end of said finger piece is depressed, and means brought into action in response to depression of said finger piece for causing said wheel to be rotated simultaneously with the raising of said snufi'er whereby to ignite the wick.

12. In a construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wall, a wick projecting from said wall adjacent one end thereof and extending into the fuel tank, an abrasive wheel jou'rnaled on said wall on an axis parallel to a snuifer member journaled on said wall on the opposite side of said wheel from said wick, a manually operable actuating lever movable in a vertical plane and jonrnaled between the axis of the snufi'er and the wick and extending therefrom rearwardly between the planes of the sides of the fuel tank, a pin and slot connection between the leve and thc snutfer, means operated by said manually operated actuating lever for rotating the wheel, and spring means to move the parts to the normal position in which the snuiler covers the wick;

13. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank, a wick projecting from the top of said tank and extending into the fuel in said tank, an abrasive wheel journaled on said tank adjacent said wick, pyrophoric means cooperating with said wheel, a snufi'er member for said wick journaled upon a horizontal axis and extending over said wick, a manually depressible actuating member for said snuffer member and located above said fuel tank, one of said members being made of pressed metal and having a slot therein, a flange along the longitudinal edge of said slot extending inwardly from one of the side walls of the member which is formed of pressed metal, a roller carriedby the other of said members and adapted to roll along said slot and engage said flange, and spring means urging -said deprcssible actuating member upwardly and said snuii'er member downwardly into snufling position.

14. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination. a fuel tank, a pair of crossed levers extending across the top of said tank, each lever having a top portion and depending side portions, the width of one levcr being less than the width of the other so that the depending side portions thereof are re ceived between the depending side portions of the other, means supported by said tank and passing through the depending side portions of said levers for fulcruming the latter on said tank, the fulcrum point of each lever being located nearer the free end of the other than is the fulcrum point of the other, one of said levers forming a finger piece and the other a snufl'er arm, a wick projecting from said tank at a point underneatlrsaid snuffer arm lever and between the depending side portions thereof, an abrasive wheel mounted on said tank at a point on the latter that is underneath one of said levers and between the depending side portions thereof, a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel at that side of the latter toward said tank, a snuifer carried by said snuifer arm lever at a point thereon to cover said wick when said snuffer arm lever is in normal position. and means responsive to actuation of said finger piece lever whereby said snuifer arm lever is swung about its fulcrum to raisesaid snuiier from the wick and said wheel is turned.

15. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank, a wick projecting from said tank, an abrasive-wheel mounted on said tank, 'a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel, a pair of crossed levers the fulcrum point of each located nearer the free end of the other than is the fulcrum point of the other mounted for movement on said tank, one of said levers forming a finger piece and the other a snufi'er arm, a snufi'er for said wick on said arm, operating connections between said levers whereby said snulfer arm lever is swung to raise said snuffer from the wick in response to actuation of said finger.piece lever, and connections between said snufl'er arm lever and said abrasive wheel for rotating the latter when said snufi'er arm lever is swung to remove the snulfer from said wick.

16. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank, a wick projecting from said tank, a pair of crossed levers overlying and extending along said tank, each lever having a top portion and depending side portions, the width of one lever being less than the width of the other so that the depending side portions thereof are interfitted between depending side portions of the other,a-pair of spaced shafts supported from said fuel tank, one for each lever and each passing through the depending portions of its lever for fulcruming said lever with respect to said tank, said shafts being spaced so that the fulcrum point of each lever is located nearer the free end of the other than is the fulcrum point of the other, one of said levers forming a finger piece and the other a snufi'er arm, the snuifer arm lever having a part normally overlying the point at which said wick projects from said tank, a snufl'er carried by said part of said snuifer arm, lever encompassing said wick, the depending side portions of said fin er piece lever being cut away and the shaft of said snuflerarm lever being accommodated in the cut away parts of said side portions as said finger piece leveris swung about its shaft, an abrasive wheel mounted on said tank, a pyrophoric element cooperating withsaid wheel at a side thereof toward said tank, and connections whereby said snuffer arm lever swung to raise said snufi'er from the wick and said abrasive wheel is turned,

said connections operating in response to movement of said finger piece lever.

17. In construction for lighters and the like, in combination, a fuel tank, a pair of crossed levers extending across the top of said tank and fulcrumed on said tank, each lever having a top portion and depending side portions, the depending side portions of onelever being received between thedepending side portions of: the other, the fulcrum point of each lever being located nearer the free end of the other than is the fulcrum point of the other, one of said levers forming a finger piece and the other a snufier arm, a wick projecting from said tank underneath said snuffer arm lever, an abrasive wheel mounted on said tank underneath one of said levers and between the depending side portions thereof, a pyrophoric element cooperating with said wheel atthat side of the latter toward said tank, a snuffer carried by said snufl'er arm lever to cover said wick when said snuffer arm lever is in normal position, said snufi'er arm lever having a range of movement 'about its fulcrum suflicient to carry it from said normal position to a position in which said snufi'er uncovers said wick, an operating connection between said snufi'er arm lever and said wheel whereby the latter is turned as said snuffer arm lever is moved to uncover the wick, and means responsive to actuation of said finger piece lever for controlling movement of said snufier arm lever 35 from one of said positions to the other.

18. In construction for lighters andthe like, in combination, a fuel tank having an elongated top wall, a wick projecting upwardly from said tank adjacent one end of said wall, a pair of levers overlying and extending along said top wall and mounted for pivotal movement with respect thereto, each lever having a top portion and depending side portions, the top portions of said levers normally extending substantially parallel to said top wall, the top portion of one of said levers forming a finger piece, whereby the lever may be depressed, and the other of said levers forming a snufi'er arm, a snuffer carried by said snuffer arm lever at the free end thereof, a wick projecting through said top wall at one end thereof and in position to be covered by said snuffer, an abrasive wheel mounted above said top wall intermediate the 105 ends of the latter and between depending side portions of one of said levers and intermediate the free ends of said levers, the axis of said wheel being spaced from the pivot of said snuffer arm lever, a pyrophoric element projecting upwardly through said top wall into contact with said wheel, said snuffer arm lever havin a greater angular movement than said nger piece lever, and operating connections between said finger-piece (lever, said snufi'er arm lever, and said abra- December, 1928.

a ROBERT -S. BLAIR. 

